Abstract: A method and apparatus for influencing movement of a handle of a floor treatment device, such as a vacuum. The floor treatment device may include a handle portion that is attached to a base, which includes a floor treatment portion. The handle portion may be pivotally movable about a rotation axis relative to the base between at least first and second positions, where the rotation axis lies in a vertical plane that includes a longitudinal axis of the handle when the handle portion is in the first position and the longitudinal axis is a non-vertical position. A pivot assist device may apply a bias to the handle portion that urges the handle portion to move from the second position to the first position, e.g., to help support the weight of the handle when a user steers the floor treatment device across a floor.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for influencing movement of a handle of a floor treatment device, such as a vacuum. The floor treatment device may include a handle portion that is attached to a base, which includes a floor treatment portion. The handle portion may be pivotally movable about a rotation axis relative to the base between at least first and second positions, where the rotation axis lies in a vertical plane that includes a longitudinal axis of the handle when the handle portion is in the first position and the longitudinal axis is a non-vertical position. A pivot assist device may apply a bias to the handle portion that urges the handle portion to move from the second position to the first position, e.g., to help support the weight of the handle when a user steers the floor treatment device across a floor.

Abstract: A fastener driving device includes a housing containing a chamber for storing compressed air a cylinder structure disposed within the housing, a piston movably disposed within the cylinder, a driver connected to the piston, a main valve cooperable with the cylinder structure and movable between an open position and a closed position. The main valve in its open position allows air to move the piston through a drive stroke. The fastener driving device also includes a trigger valve operable between first and second positions. The trigger valve in its first position communicates air pressure from the chamber to the main valve through a signal passageway so as to retain the main valve in a closed position. The trigger valve in its second position allows the air to be exhausted to atmosphere through the signal passageway to permit the main valve to open. The cylinder and the signal passageway comprise an integrally molded structure.

Abstract: A fastener driving device comprises a housing having a chamber constructed and arranged to contain compressed air, a cylinder disposed within the housing, a piston disposed within the cylinder and movable between upper and lower positions within the cylinder, a fastener striker connected with the piston, a main valve and trigger valve. The main valve is formed from a resilient material having a first portion thereof sealingly engaged with a first portion of the cylinder. The main valve has a second portion thereof movable between a sealing position with a second portion of the cylinder and an unsealed position as a result of flexing of the resilient material. The unsealed position permitting the compressed air to force the piston to move from the upper position to the lower position to enable the fastener striker to move through a fastener driving stroke. The trigger valve is carried by the housing.

Abstract: A fastener driving device including a positioning mechanism for positioning a nail into an opening in a workpiece. The positioning mechanism includes an opening locating structure movably connected to the movable assembly of the contact trip assembly and adapted to extend into the opening so as to align the nosepiece with respect to the opening. The opening locating structure is movable relative the movable assembly of the contact trip assembly between an extended position and a retracted position and biased toward the extended position by a first biasing spring to facilitate locating of the opening, and movable to the retracted position when the opening locating structure is pressed against a workpiece. The positioning mechanism further includes a guiding structure movably connected to the nosepiece structure, the guiding structure being biased by a spring to extend forwardly to guide the fastener in a driving track inside the nosepiece.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool includes a housing assembly with a nosepiece assembly defining a drive track. A safety trip assembly includes a trigger enabling portion and a workpiece engaging portion and is movable between an extended disabling position and a retracted enabling position. The safety trip assembly is biased toward the extended position and is moved toward the retracted position by engagement between a workpiece and the workpiece engaging member. The workpiece engaging portion is movable to permit adjustment of a length of the safety trip assembly. The workpiece engaging portion may be removed from the safety trip assembly and exchanged with another different workpiece engaging portion. A workpiece engaging portion usable with the fastener driving tool includes a positioning mechanism having an opening locating structure and a guiding structure.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool includes a housing assembly with a nosepiece assembly defining a drive track. A safety trip assembly includes a trigger enabling portion and a workpiece engaging portion and is movable between an extended disabling position and a retracted enabling position. The safety trip assembly is biased toward the extended position and is moved toward the retracted position by engagement between a workpiece and the workpiece engaging member. The workpiece engaging portion is movable to permit adjustment of a length of the safety trip assembly. The workpiece engaging portion may be removed from the safety trip assembly and exchanged with another different workpiece engaging portion. A workpiece engaging portion usable with the fastener driving tool includes a positioning mechanism having an opening locating structure and a guiding structure.

Abstract: A fastener driving device including a positioning mechanism for positioning a nail into an opening in a workpiece. The positioning mechanism includes an opening locating structure movably connected to the movable assembly of the contact trip assembly and adapted to extend into the opening so as to align the nosepiece with respect to the opening. The opening locating structure is movable relative the movable assembly of the contact trip assembly between an extended position and a retracted position and biased toward the extended position by a first biasing spring to facilitate locating of the opening, and movable to the retracted position when the opening locating structure is pressed against a workpiece. The positioning mechanism further includes a guiding structure movably connected to the nosepiece structure, the guiding structure being biased by a spring to extend forwardly to guide the fastener in a driving track inside the nosepiece.

Abstract: A fastener driving device includes a housing containing a chamber for storing compressed air a cylinder structure disposed within the housing, a piston movably disposed within the cylinder, a driver connected to the piston, a main valve cooperable with the cylinder structure and movable between an open position and a closed position. The main valve in its open position allows air to move the piston through a drive stroke. The fastener driving device also includes a trigger valve operable between first and second positions. The trigger valve in its first position communicates air pressure from the chamber to the main valve through a signal passageway so as to retain the main valve in a closed position. The trigger valve in its second position allows the air to be exhausted to atmosphere through the signal passageway to permit the main valve to open. The cylinder and the signal passageway comprise an integrally molded structure.

Abstract: A fastener driving device comprises a housing having a chamber constructed and arranged to contain compressed air, a cylinder disposed within the housing, a piston disposed within the cylinder and movable between upper and lower positions within the cylinder, a fastener striker connected with the piston, a main valve and trigger valve. The main valve is formed from a resilient material having a first portion thereof sealingly engaged with a first portion of the cylinder. The main valve has a second portion thereof movable between a sealing position with a second portion of the cylinder and an unsealed position as a result of flexing of the resilient material. The unsealed position permitting the compressed air to force the piston to move from the upper position to the lower position to enable the fastener striker to move through a fastener driving stroke. The trigger valve is carried by the housing.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool is provided including a portable housing defining a fastener drive track, a fastener driving element carried by the housing for movement within the drive track through successive cycles of operation, each of which includes a fastener driving stroke and a return stoke, and a drive piston operatively connected with the fastener driving element for movement therewith. The tool also has a magazine assembly carried by the housing for receiving a supply of fasteners and feeding successive fasteners into the drive track in a position to be driven into a work piece during successive fastener driving strokes of the fastener driving element, an actuating structure carried by the housing and being constructed and arranged to move from a normal, inoperative position into an operative position to initiate the movement of the drive piston and the fastener driving element through a fastener driving stroke, and an overdrive signaling structure carried by the housing.

Abstract: In a fastener driving apparatus including a nose piece assembly defining an elongated drive track receiving a fastener driving element therein movable through an operating cycle including a drive stroke and return stroke, and a fastener feeding track communicating laterally with the drive track, an improved mechanism for feeding fasteners from a fastener package into a position to be driven by the fastener driving element during the drive stroke thereof is provided. The feeding mechanism includes an actuating mechanism mounted for movement through an operating cycle including (1) an operative stroke in a direction along the fastener feeding track toward the drive track for feeding fasteners to the drive track and (2) a return stroke.

Abstract: A fastener driving device including a housing having a power operated drive therein. A fastener driving element is slidably mounted in a drive track and operatively connected with the power operated drive so as to drive a leading fastener fed into the drive track from a magazine outwardly of the drive track and into a workpiece during a drive stroke of the drive. An actuating mechanism includes a contact trip element and a trigger member and is operable to actuate the power operated drive in response to the movement of the contact trip element and the trigger member into operative positions. The actuating mechanism is such that an unwanted actuation of the power operated drive will occur in response to an inadvertent impact of the housing with a foreign object during an upward manual movement of the housing while the operator is exerting digital pressure on the trigger member by the continued upward movement of the contact trip from the inoperative position thereof into the operative position.

Abstract: A fastener feeding assembly for a fastener driving apparatus including a pair of spaced support members disposed in an opposed relation to one another along a feed path for a fastener package, the feed path having a proximal end leading laterally into a drive track of the apparatus. The feeding assembly includes a multiplicity of resilient bristles supported by one of the support members and extending transversely and toward the proximal end within the feed path. One of the support members supports the fastener package so that the package is engaged by free ends of the bristles by a force sufficient to maintain the package on the feed track against movement in a direction away from the proximal end.

Abstract: A fastener driving tool includes a housing assembly with a nosepiece assembly defining a drive track. A safety trip assembly includes a trigger enabling portion and a workpiece engaging portion and is movable between an extended disabling position and a retracted enabling position. The safety trip assembly is biased toward the extended position and is moved toward the retracted position by engagement between a workpiece and the workpiece engaging member. The workpiece engaging portion is movable to permit adjustment of a length of the safety trip assembly. The workpiece engaging portion may be removed from the safety trip assembly and exchanged with another different workpiece engaging portion. A workpiece engaging portion usable with the fastener driving tool includes a positioning mechanism having an opening locating structure and a guiding structure.